Story of Nikki Lindsey

CHAPTER 16: IS SHE THEO'S GIRLFRIEND?

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She was peering at the woman who spoke behind him. Toya first noticed her round big brown eyes with long eyelashes paired with her cute, sharp nose and full heart-shaped lips. He tilted his head upon being intimidated by her pleading-like gaze.

She hesitantly smiles at him, and then he sees his son hiding behind her. He is hugging her waist. 

"Renzo! Why did you run outside? Tell me, are you alright?"

Toya quickly kneeled on one foot to examine his son. Renzo shook his head but won't let go; keep clinging to the woman.

"Thank you for bringing him back. Tell me, where did you find him?" Toya stood on his feet and thanked the woman, who he thought was a 5'6 footer. 

"Ah, no problem. It's just—"

"Why do you— parent abandons your kid running around the street?!" a guy approached them.

"What?" Toya doesn't like what he states.

"We almost hit him! The car behind us crashed into us as we had to step the brake, then we were at such speed to avoid hitting him! Now look at our car!" he gestured his hand to the broken car. 

"Fred, enough. Let me clarify this myself..." the woman calmly talks to the man who appears that her husband.

The guy frowned but listened and kept quiet.

"All right, I want to hear what happens." 

"Look, we drove past the pedestrian lane after the green light. But among the crowd on the sidewalk, he suddenly crossed the road. Gladly, we notice him quickly and promptly; my husband steps on the brakes, but not the car following us. And so—" 

"Our car had major damage after the accident!"

"Miss, erm, I'm so sorry about this!" It was Korin who spoke up before Toya could open his mouth.

"Something is happening inside the café, and my attention was away from him. He would be afraid once he hears people yelling, so he runs away and wanders by himself."

"Oh..." the woman now understands.

"I will pay for the damage," he told the couple who claimed they got into an accident because of his son.

"And, Harry, go check the other cars involved in this and settle everything," Toya Kobayashi ordered his assistant.

"Okay, boss!" The guy responded, quickly leaving the scene with his boss's car.

"Huh! It would be best if you had to pay for the damage. Look at our poor car!" the guy keeps reminding President Toya.

"Fred, I said, enough. They're willing to shoulder the expenses, so stop fretting again," she glared at her husband. May her tone be low but firm.

Toya peeked at the couple, and something was not right between them, but he kept his conclusion to himself. "Anyway, before I forget, here is my calling card. Call my office to inform me about the cost." Toya reaches for his calling card out of his suit inside his pocket and hands it over.

Fred snatches the black card from Toya's hand. "I will collect the payment for the damage," he grins at Toya. However, his wife took the calling card instead.

"I will handle this, Fred."

"But—" he shut his mouth when his wife glared at him.

"Um, President Kobayashi…" she read the cards' prints. "I will contact you once our car is fixed and we get the service fee assessment."

"All right. But I haven't asked your names yet."

"Oh, I—"

"Caitlin! Glad you found him!"

"Nikki, you're here?"

"Yes. Is he alright?" Nikki then leaned on the boy and asked him who was still hugging Caitlin all this time.

"Hi! My name is Nikki! Is it okay now? We apprehend the bad guy!" Nikki told the kid with a bright smile on her face.

"Then, it is safe to go home. Your papa, we're here too. Nothing to be afraid of anymore, hmm?" Caitlin encourages the kid.

Renzo looked up, then cast a glance at the coffee shop, and then he scans the surrounding people's faces.

After he recognizes most of them, he slowly let go of Caitlin and runs to his father.

"I got you!" Toya whispered to his son. "Are you okay, buddy?"

"Are you going to scold me?" with a teary eye, Renzo asks his father.

"Why would I? But, I want to speak to you as a man when we return home, can we?"

Renzo nodded. "I'm sorry."

Toya messed up his son's hair. "All right. But we need to discuss this matter, understood?"

Meanwhile, inside the café, Theo watches the man who tried to sneak out when everyone freaks out and searches for Renzo.

"Huh! No wonder their kids grow up like spoiled brats. They baby them so much!" commented the man who observed the scene outside and heard the talks circulating inside the shop. Others went eavesdropped on what was happening, and this guy quickly made his conclusion.

But Theo is glaring at him. "Don't judge how parents raise their kids. You don't know what they have to go through to give the attention that their kid needs most. Like you, it seems you don't have a happy childhood, but it doesn't mean every kid should be. Not all kids have a great environment and have a splendid experience. Besides, their parents treated them well. How about you?"

"Who are you? Quit mocking me! You have no right to speak against my life!"

"So are you, to theirs." Theo pointed out the people outside. "They were those who try to become great parents even though things won't ever go perfect for them, but they try to handle it in their ways." 

"Huh! Speak like an expert? I discipline my children accordingly, and I never babied them." he glares at Theo.

"I already know that speaking to you is just a waste."

"Don't mind him, Theo. The police will arrive here soon, and we need not mind him from then on."

"Po-police? What crime have I committed? Did I ask for any payment for damages? Not anymore, but forgive that kid!"

"Shut up. You won't let go of this…" the beautiful model countered him.

Not that long, President Toya Kobayashi walked toward them. The guy is bathing in sweat and cold, watching the man he had known somehow.

"Are you a representative from G-Group Company?" Toya asked the man.

"Ye, ye- yes, I am—"

"Then listen carefully. I was hoping you could relay my message to Chairman Gibb, and I withdraw my investments to the G-Group new project."

Without another word, Toya turns around and leaves that place. The guy who was once great at fighting against a kid has suddenly collapsed his world. He tried to follow the President, but Theo blocked his way.

"Don't feel too great that he will listen to your plea. Even if you kneel, don't be like a thick face loser wasting others' pressure time."

"You better prepare yourself to face the prosecutor."

"Wha— why I have to be interrogated? I didn't do any crime!" 

The man tried to run. But then Matt arrives and arrests him with an arrest warrant on his hand, a case filed against him under the Money Laundering Act.

Nikki is watching the scene with a weight on her chest. She was just away for less than two weeks but already, so much has happened in the shop. But she can't come back yet. 

She was about to turn around when Theo glanced in her direction. Their eyes meet and lock, but the model hooked her arm around Theo's waist and dragged him out of the shop.

Is she Theo's girlfriend? It's a big question in her mind.